Double Bass Tail Piece Repair Question

[gerry grable]

I have a very old tail piece that I'd like to try on my bass. I have a lot of free time on my hands
The problem is that the 4 1/4 x 1/8 x 1/8 inch strip of wood (ebony?) that slides into the slot at the top of the tail piece and holds and guides the strings is missing.
Is there a name for this part? And can one be ordered one online?

 

[robobass]

No, you have to make it. I don't know what it's called. Tailpiece nut?

 

[1st Bass]

Tailpiece saddle
Some people make them of bone, or horn or other hard substance. I have seen them made of metal.

 

[gerry grable]

No, you have to make it. I don't know what it's called. Tailpiece nut?

Thanks. My first thought was tailpiece nut, also.
As for making one? I haven't a clue. Wood? Plastic? Also, it's curved or bent.
I guess it's a job for a bass or maybe a cello repairman? I don't think there's a huge demand for them for bass parts companies

 

[megafiddle]

I believe it's called a fret.

-

 

[Matthew Tucker]

really doesn't matter what you make it out of as long as it's hard enough to support the string pressure. You could even use plastic. Probably easiest would be to use some ebony or maple or some other hardwood.

make a template out of cardboard and trace that onto your material cut to the right thin-ness for the slot. make sure the wood grain runs crossways. Glue with anything you like. I'd use hide glue but hey.

 

[jsf729]

Curious- does the height of the piece have much effect with sound? Or pretty much any height will do as to keep the strings from laying on the tailpiece

 

[Matthew Tucker]

it just gives a defined start position. the length of the string between tailpiece and bridge is adjusted via the tailwire. you just need enough height to keep the strings from laying on the tailpiece itself.

edit: ... But you know, it may not matter at all ... many tailpieces don't have them... you can use it quite well without the nut, but the pitch of the afterlengths may be less defined, if you care about that!

 

[robobass]

I've heard people say that a higher TP saddle increases string tension.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

I can't see how that could happen ... can you?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I've heard people say that a higher TP saddle increases string tension.

They may say that but it does not happen.
Instead the tailpiece goes lower and the string sits at the exact same point as with a lower TP saddle.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

correct, and in fact if the tailpiece stayed in place (hypothetically) the string tension would actually go DOWN

 

[robobass]

I was just trolling A few years ago there were all of these heated arguments here about silly things that supposedly affect tension. No one took the bait this time!